A GUIDE TO KUANG SI FALLS

KUANG SI WATERFALL EXPERIENCE

Kuang Si Falls is much more than one waterfall. You will need half a day to explore the whole area. It begins with lots of small cascading falls that flow into pools you can swim in. It’s easy to get stuck at each spot along the way. I suggest heading all the way through to the big waterfall and then working your way back to these pools for a swim on the way back. At least that way you have seen everything there is to see and you can pick your favorite swimming spots.

The second cascades are incredibly relaxing to look at. Huge pools of water cascade down several 1-foot drops. This was a stunning natural formation I had never seen in person. You couldn’t swim at these pools but they were mesmerizing to watch.

KUANG SI WATERFALL

After only 15 minutes of walking (not including our stops at the previous pools), we turned a corner and walked across a small wooden bridge. All of a sudden out of nowhere the giant Kuang Si Waterfall took center-stage and blew me away. A 50-meter drop, cascading down multiple levels against the yellow limestone stone was undeniably breathtaking. The foot-bridge keeps tourists far enough away from the falls, which I thought was a great example of high-volume sustainable tourism. It also meant that everyone gets a great photo with unobstructed views of the natural beauty before them.

From this point, you can trek up 15 minutes to the top pools. The view from here is quite good with mountains in the distance but trees seem to obstruct most of the vantage points. A chill-out area with picnic tables and a rope swing make for a great spot to have a rest and enjoy the atmosphere before making the climb back down.

There is also a butterfly park attached to the Kuang Si Falls but we decided not to visit it as we were pushed for time and preferred to spend more time mesmerized by the majestic waterfalls.

KUANG SI FALLS MAP

KUANG SI BEAR RESCUE CENTER

Before you experience the Kuang Si Falls, there is another Luang Prabang Attraction awaiting you at the entrance. The Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre is home to more than 20 Asiatic Black Bears, which have been rescued from dire circumstances. The enclosures are large and provide a positive atmosphere for the bears. As we walked past a huge bear was actually lying in a hammock and seemed quite content. The Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre doesn’t receive any of the admission fees and relies on donations and t-shirt sales.

MORE LAOS TRAVEL BLOGS

HIKING IN VANG VIENG: HIKING TO BEAUTIFUL VIEWPOINT IN VANG VIENG

BLUE LAGOON IN VANG VIENG: BLUE LAGOON VANG VIENG DAY TRIP

THE WHISKY VILLAGE: THE WHISKY VILLAGE – LUANG PRABANG

BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS

Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!

You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance.

I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT

Get a Free Quote

HOW TO GET FROM SIEM REAP TO LUANG PRABANG

I spent a short amount of time doing some brief research and quickly discovered I had a couple of options to make the journey of 1533 km. I could fly from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang for approximately $140 USD or I could make the journey by land on several buses for a total of $65. Considering I had three days to make the journey and the potential to save $75, I naively opted to travel overland by bus.

The journey would end up taking me three days and I rode in 11 different vehicles. This is what to expect if, like me, you opt for the budget route while traveling from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang.

SIEM REAP TO VEINTANE

I bought the first ticket in Siem Reap for $47, which was supposed to be a 17-hour journey. It would get me 1203km to Vientiane, a city on the Mekong River and the Laos border. At 7 am a man picked me up from my hostel and on a motorbike, he took me to a small shop to wait for a van. Half an hour later the van drove picked me up and drove me to Krong Stung Treng.

It was in Krong Stung Treng that I asked the vendor at what time I would arrive in Vientiane. To my surprise he said 7 am in the morning. After an interesting discussion it seemed, there was nothing to do other than to accept the 7-hour add-on of time to my trip. He drove me to the bus station where I waited half an hour and boarded a new van.

BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS

Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!

You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance.

I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT

Get a Free Quote

CROSSING THE BORDER

This van drove me all the way to the Cambodian/Laos border. The driver took our passports, had us fill out the necessary forms, and dealt with all of the processing for us. Several people in our van decided to do it themselves as they didn’t want to get ripped off. In the end, they saved $2 for their hassles. The cost of the visa for Laos differs depending on what country you are from. For me, the whole thing cost $40 no strings attached although a Canadian in our van had to pay $47. It seemed pretty standard to me in comparison to Vietnam and Cambodia, which were $50 and $30 respectively.

We walked over the border 10 steps and a new van picked us up on the other side. We drove to Don Det and dropped off half of the passengers in the van. Two of us remained and we felt like kings spreading out in the van.

I had been listening to a podcast that involved Mexicans telling stories and recounting their experience of hopping the border into the US. It put my 24-hour journey into perspective and I didn’t dare complain.

I arrived at Pakse bus station and was told to wait two hours for the bus to depart for Vientiane. To my relief, the bus was a double-decker sleeper bus. It sounds comfortable but in reality, it is a 5ft long bed, which is about as wide as a single bed. Oh, and you share it with a total stranger.

The first three hours were pretty uncomfortable but I got lucky as the guy sharing my bed departed at an earlier stop. With the bed all to myself, I then managed to get a few solid naps in before arriving in Vientiane.

As I looked around at my options at the bus station, the sun was just beginning to light up the sky. It seemed 30,000 Kip or $4 USD was the going fare for tourists to be transported in a jeepney to the city center.

VIENTIANE FOR THE NIGHT

I arrived at my hostel pretty weary-eyed and left my bag in the lobby before taking one of their free bikes out to explore the town. This is one of the benefits of taking the overland. I had one day to explore Vientiane, which I wouldn’t have otherwise. The city is right on the Mekong River and on the other side of the wide stretch of flowing water in Thailand. I hung out at the markets and watched the sunset over Thailand while sitting on a wall in Laos. That was a pretty unusual experience and one I won’t forget.

I paid for accommodation that night in Vientiane and bought a ticket to travel to Luang Prabang for the next morning at 7 am. Although there is another option if you are feeling up for it. You can save your second night of accommodation in a row by taking the sleeper bus that night. I decided a good night’s sleep would be worth it after the long day of travel previously.

VIENTIANE TO LUANG PRABANG

At 7 am a van picked me up and took me to the bus station. A big bus with two seats to myself, this was more like it. This bus took us through some winding roads, overlooking some stunning mountainous scenery and small villages. The ticket even included lunch at a small restaurant (Don’t expect a menu or silver service). A choice between chicken/lemongrass Pho style soup or rice, chicken, and vegetable plate kept everyone happy. Aside from a few small fees to use toilets along the way there were really no other costs to included.

THE BLUE LAGOON IN VANG VIENG

This is an adventure for those who want to get some jumps, rope swings, and zip-lines done on the cheap. I’m talking $1 cheap. However, the lagoons are a great spot to chill in tubes, have a beer and enjoy the sun.

HOW TO GET TO THE BLUE LAGOON

The first thing to know is that crossing the river out of town will cost you a toll of 4000-8000 kip. However, I tested a different route that is very easy and skips the toll. Simply cross the small wooden bridge on your moped and then once on the cliff-side of the river drive towards the toll bridge along the bank. After a few hundred meters you can join the correct road. I will illustrate it on a map to make it foolproof not that any of you reading are fools.

FROM VANG VIENG TO THE BLUE LAGOON

Once you are on the right road, you will have a tough time getting lost. Multiple signs and other buses full of tourists will lead the way. The entrance fee to the Blue Lagoon is 15,000 Kip ($2) with your moped or 10,000 Kip if you walk in. It is possible to walk to the Blue Lagoon but I wouldn’t advise it unless you fancy a two-hour walk. The bicycle would be okay.

If you would like to book a (cheap) private tuk-tuk for the day to transport you to and from the different Blue Lagoons in Vang Vieng you can do it online the day before with this tour operator.

Book your tour: Private Transfer to Blue Lagoons

Book on GetYourGuide

THE BLUE LAGOON VANG VIENG

Far from a secluded pool, the lagoon is usually full of action and tourists. As well as the lagoon there is a cave to explore and a series of zip-lines. I didn’t spend time at either, opting instead to hang out at the lagoon, basking for hours in the sun and practicing backflips.

A giant tree, which has remarkably grown at a 45-degree angle is fitted out with stairs. From the lower branch, you can enjoy a 2-meter jump or from the top branch a 5-meter jump. Despite being very narrow, the lagoon is very deep. Not once all day did I scrape or touch the bottom.

Once you are ready to move on it is time to retrace your steps a little before taking a slightly different turn and making a journey on a bumpy, rocky road towards Blue Lagoon 3 also known as the Nature Park Patong Cave & Bubbling Springs.

Many people with more money to splash than myself opted to hire dune buggies, which actually looked super fun. They were tearing around on the dirt roads. The drive throughout the entire day is incredibly scenic. Rice field-laden landscapes are complemented by dramatic limestone cliffs.

BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS

Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!

You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance.

I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT

Get a Free Quote

BLUE LAGOON THREE IN VANG VIENG

Sometimes a location makes you want to throw down your bag and explore every facet, every corner, every jump, every watering hole. Blue Lagoon 3 is one hundred percent that place. Before I could take off my moped helmet I was already planning what feature of the lagoon to tackle first.

A zip-line crosses the lagoon, requiring you to drop off in the middle of the lagoon. The other installation and my personal favorite was a high-tech rope swing that flew you out across the lagoon before looping you up allowing you to flip into the deep water.

A wall of green trees and plants created a jungle backdrop to the idyllic lagoon. Chill-out huts, a bar and restaurant were down the far end of the lagoon but I never made it past the rope swings. A group of Koreans tried to copy my flips off the rope swing, which ended in a number of red backs and a whole lot of laughs.

YOU DOWN FOR SUNSET SOCCER?

If you are a football/soccer lover like myself, as you drive home keep an eye out on the right-hand side of the road for a full-size soccer field. I drove by at 4:30 and noticed a few guys kitting up in soccer boots and jerseys so I asked to join. As always they were more than happy to have a guy double the size of everyone play.

We played through sunset for more than a couple of hours, which meant I had to drive back in the dark trying not to hit any potholes or big rocks. If you aren’t confident on a bike, definitely head back before it gets dark.

MORE LAOS TRAVEL BLOGS

LUANG PRABANG GUIDE: 9 BEST THINGS TO DO IN LUANG PRABANG

HIKING IN VANG VIENG: HIKING TO BEAUTIFUL VIEWPOINT IN VANG VIENG

KUANG SI FALLS: KUANG SI WATERFALL

THE WHISKY VILLAGE: THE WHISKY VILLAGE – LUANG PRABANG

HIKING IN VANG VIENG

HOW TO GET TO PHA NGERN VIEWPOINT

The Pha Ngern viewpoint is across the river from Vang Vieng Town, a 4.5-kilometer journey by moped, dune buggy, bicycle, or in my case a leisurely walk. It took me about 40 minutes in the searing heat, but the landscape made the walk seem far shorter. Rice fields surround you in all directions as you walk along a road shared only by a few tourist buses and herds of cows.

About halfway along the road towards the Blue Lagoon is a turnoff indicated by a small sign next to a small store selling snacks and drinks. Follow this dirt road for about 10 minutes and you will reach a small hut with a few locals who will sell you a 10,000 kip entrance ticket.

From here the hike is quite steep and it would be best to wear decent shoes as there are a few slippery spots. However, for the most part, this is a very basic, short hike taking only 30 minutes from foot to summit of the mountain.

Railings, footholds, and ladders help guide you to the top. Despite the simplicity of the hike, I was still searching for breath at the top due to the incline.

HIKING TO PHA NGERN VIEWPOINT

At the summit, sweeping views of the rice-paddy laden valley will take your breath away if the incline didn’t. From the backside, you can spot your hotel in Vang Vieng Town and from the front, you can even spot the location of the Blue Lagoon.

I arrived an hour and a half before sunset to ensure I didn’t miss it. Luckily a local woman was selling snacks and refreshments to make our wait enjoyable. Although the views were more than enough to keep me entertained until the sun fell below the ridges of the mountains on the horizon.

I decided not to take photos but instead to create a timelapse of the sunset. I set my tripod at the foot of the lookout, nestles on the sharp limestone cliffs. The most amazing part of the view was watching farmers strategically burning off segments of their farms. It also added another element to the time-lapse.

Hiking to this viewpoint was the pinnacle of my time in Vang Vieng and gave me a great understanding of the layout of the town and a broad perspective of the vast landscape surrounding the town. It is a great way to end your day if you have been out exploring the Blue Lagoon or the caves. 

MORE LAOS TRAVEL BLOGS

LUANG PRABANG GUIDE: 9 BEST THINGS TO DO IN LUANG PRABANG

KUANG SI FALLS: KUANG SI WATERFALL

THE WHISKY VILLAGE: THE WHISKY VILLAGE – LUANG PRABANG

BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS

Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!

You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance.

I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT

Get a Free Quote

THE LAOS WHISKY VILLAGE

GETTING TO THE WHISKY VILLAGE

Driving in Southeast Asia is often an adventure in itself and this drive from Luang Prabang was littered with potholes and gravel roads but for the most part, it was relatively safe.

The Laos Whisky Village was a ghost town when I arrived. I was expecting at least a handful of tourists as it is commonly offered at the tourism offices as a day trip. The streets were empty except for a few locals lethargically walking in the hot sun.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE LAOS WHISKY VILLAGE

There is one Laos Whisky Village tour that I recommend as it is quite unique to the others! The best part about this top-rated tour is that you get to visit the Whisky Village but the tour also includes a visit to the amazing Kuang Si Falls and Pak Ou Caves. It’s very reasonably priced and a great trip for a group, family, or backpackers.

Book your tour: Kuang Si Falls, Whisky Village & Pak Ou Caves

I was so unsure if I was in the right place I didn’t even lock my bike. I walked up to an old lady who stood behind rows of alcohol, which each encapsulated a different reptile.
I asked, “Whisky Village?”
She nodded and I figured it was worth a look after the long drive so I locked the bike pulled out my camera and started exploring the village.

BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS

Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!

You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance.

I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT

Get a Free Quote

SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST WHISKY

There were multiple elements to the village. Obviously, it is known as a whisky distillery but silk and cotton shoals and fabrics were the prominent product being offered as I walked the streets. Small jewelry and trinket stands broke up the repetition of the weaving vendors.

The other unexpected facet of the Whisky Village was found in the center of the village. Several beautifully decorated temples, shrines, and relics painted the central square with a vibrancy that wasn’t found elsewhere in the relatively poor area. You can quickly see why a visit to the Whisky Village definitely needs to be on your Laos bucket list.

HOW ARE THEY MAKING THE LAOTIAN SNAKE WHISKY?

The whisky or rice wine was a sight to behold. I had seen a small scorpion in a tequila bottle in the past. However, the Laotians had taken things to another level. Giant snakes, lizards, and scorpions barely fit into the large bottles of alcohol. My friend Janine tasted three small samples and the last one hit her extremely hard, halting the tasting session before it had even begun.

The whisky and rice wine take approximately four weeks to produce and requires sticky rice through a process of air filtration. The rice dries due to the filtration and is then steamed in a bamboo basket becoming rice and no longer sticky rice.

Yeast is added and the concoction ferments for three weeks before being thrown into a tank with another filtration system and the rice gets boiled. The rice wine is then cooled and the Laotians are now ready to get the party started. The snakes, lizards, scorpions, beetles, and cockroaches are not just for looks, they are apparently flavor boosters. Not my preferred spices and herbs but they seem to know what they are doing.

WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT AT THE LAOS WHISKY VILLAGE

During my explorations, the local school had just been let out and the kids started flooding into the village. I always stick out and the kids were fascinated, even more so when I started having a kick about with some of the kids. The smiling crowd of giggling children formed an orderly line and watched, joining in when they had the courage.

There was only one place to eat as far as I saw and no menu. I ended up ordering the only thing the vendor and I managed to communicate to each other. My order consisted of one word, “Pig”. I actually ended up with Pho-style pork, a noodle soup that was incredibly tasty, didn’t upset the stomach, and set me back $1.50.

While wandering the Whisky Village, my friend Janine bought one of the silk scarves, which range from $1-5. It pays to buy one early so the vendors can see you already have one although they will try and sell you another ten regardless.

Everyone in the Whisky Village was warm despite enduring the struggle of low foot traffic on the day we visited. During sunset, about 20 other tourists flowed through the village, which made me feel better knowing there would be a number of sales for the weavers and alcohol merchants.

Throughout the Whisky Village, you can watch the silk and cotton fabrics being made by skilled veterans of weaving. It is a fascinating process to watch and after standing over the weaver for several minutes I still could not comprehend exactly how it was working as they are incredibly quick with the push-pull technique.

As the sun sets head down to the banks of the Mekong River and enjoys the pontoon as the flowing water glows and the mountains darken in the distance.

And some more shots I took throughout the afternoon:

BAN XANG HAI /WHISKY VILLAGE MAP

MORE LAOS TRAVEL BLOGS

LUANG PRABANG GUIDE: 9 BEST THINGS TO DO IN LUANG PRABANG

HIKING IN VANG VIENG: HIKING TO BEAUTIFUL VIEWPOINT IN VANG VIENG

BLUE LAGOON IN VANG VIENG: BLUE LAGOON VANG VIENG DAY TRIP

KUANG SI FALLS: KUANG SI WATERFALL

LUANG PRABANG TO VANG VIENG

From Luang Prabang the bus was a 5-hour journey and was much simpler than my arduous journey from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang that took three days of travel. I spent my final week at Chillao Hostel, which cost me a total of $32 USD and included a free breakfast, tea, coffee and each night they put on all you can drink free whisky. Vang Vieng is the cheapest place in the world to be an alcoholic.

VANG VIENG

It is a place you can quickly become sucked into the cycle of drinking/staying up late and then lethargically waking up late and repeating it all again the next day. However, there are so many beautiful places to check out in Vang Vieng that it would be incredibly disappointing to waste away my time in a bar.

THE BLUE LAGOONS

I had two days that really stood out to me during the week. The first day I rented a moped for $6 USD and headed across the Nam Song River to check out the Blue Lagoon. It is one of the most popular attractions in Vang Vieng, but in reality it is just a little blue pool. The water is more blue than your average lagoon but it isn’t the most picturesque spot. The reason I stayed for three hours was to enjoy a tree that hung horizontally over the lagoon. A perfect spot to perch in the sun and practice backflips.

Next I headed to Blue Lagoon 3, an adventurer’s playground. Several rope swings and a flying fox over a much more idyllic lagoon made this spot my number one recommendation for a day-long chill out in Vang Vieng.

On my drive home I came across a soccer field and noticed some guys lacing up their shoes and boots. I pulled in and asked if I could join. Two hours later we finished playing a full-size game on a grass field, which was covered in cow shit. It was an amazing way to end the night despite having to drive home on the pothole-ridden road in the dark.

HIKING IN VANG VIENG

The second day I thoroughly enjoyed in Vang Vieng involved quite a lot of walking. From Vang Vieng Town, I walked five kilometers to Pha Ngeun viewpoint. From there it was a steep 30 minute hike to an amazing view across the rice paddies. I relaxed up the top for a couple of hours enjoying the sunset as it brought an end to a beautiful day in Vang Vieng. I walked the five kilometers back with a guy from Paris before getting stuck into a $1 baguette and an obligatory 60 cent mango smoothie.

BACK TO AUSTRALIA

From Vang Vieng I caught the 5.5 hour bus back to Luang Prabang, stayed a night in a hostel before flying to Kuala Lumpur the next morning. After the three hour flight, I had an 8 hour layover in Kuala Lumpur Airport before catching an overnight flight to Brisbane, Australia. Here I surprised my grandmother by knocking on her door for an unexpected visit. I’ll be spending a few days here catching up with family before heading down to my Adelaide just in time for christmas.

Well that was a busy week with a lot of adventure and transit. Hope you all had a good week!

I had expected amazing scenery, waterfalls, and possibly a huge backpacker scene. What I found was a highly developed, westernized little town. On the outskirts of the town the shacks, street carts, and other commonalities of Southeast Asia could be found. However, the town itself was planned out, with western food options in every direction, fancy cafes and restaurants, and manicured gardens.

I spent 8 days in Luang Prabang after catching the Luang Prabang bus from Siem Reap, and in amongst some relaxing days managed to visit most of the attractions and then some in this scenic region of Laos. For the purpose of this article know that 8000 Kip is $1 USD as of December 2016.

TOP THINGS TO DO IN LUANG PRABANG

MT. PHOUSI VIEWPOINT 

In the center of the town, a staircase leads up Mt. Phousi, home to the Wat Tham Phousi Shrine. Entrance to the temple is 20,000 Kip and bizarrely you can buy a caged bird to release at the summit if that interests you. I made the mistake of visiting the shrine at sunrise hoping to catch a nice view, some color, and an interesting time-lapse.

Like most of the mornings in Luang Prabang in December, it seems the fog is a constant and not a once-off. The view was still great but nothing in comparison to the sunset I witnessed the following day. From the top, you will have views of the entire town, the Mekong River, and the mountains that surround the valley.

Be warned there will be a huge hoard of other tourists at the top so if you take your photography seriously, it is best to get there at least an hour before sunset if not earlier. I arrived late and stood atop a fence that had a pretty decent drop down to get a shot of the Mekong River as the sunset.

WITNESS THE MONKS RECEIVING ALMS

To be honest I came across this by mistake. I knew this tradition happened daily in the early hours of the morning but hadn’t risen early enough to experience it. I woke at 5 am the day I went to Mt. Phousi for sunrise. The streets were empty, except for the steady stream of fog that flowed above my head. All of a sudden a single-file line of steady-faced monks came out of the fog doing their morning rounds. Local vendors rest on the sidewalk, sitting on stools while waiting for the monks to pass by. Each monk is given a small portion of rice or food, which he places into his container. This is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Luang Prabang.

There is a great Luang Prabang tour that combines an almsgiving experience with the monks and a tour to Kuang Si Falls for under $25. 

KUANG SI WATERFALLS LUANG PRABANG

These majestic waterfalls are the most popular tourist attractions and most common things to do in Luang Prabang. Any time you venture out of your accommodation, you will be propositioned by drivers offering you a trip to Kuang Si. The waterfalls are beautiful beyond belief, a grand attraction at over 50 meters. The falls cascade down several platforms before plunging into the azure pool below. Also at the falls, you will find the Kuang Si Bear Rescue Sanctuary and the Kuang Si Butterfly Park. The entrance is 20,000 Kip and a van ride to the falls will cost about 35,000 Kip depending on your haggling ability.

There is one Kuang Si Waterfall tour that I recommend as it is quite unique to the others! The best part about this top-rated tour is that you get to visit Kuang Si Falls but the tour also includes a visit to the Whisky Village and Pak Ou Caves. It’s very reasonably priced and a great trip for a group, family, or backpackers.

Book your tour: Kuang Si Falls, Whisky Village & Pak Ou Caves

BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS

Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!

You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance.

I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT

Get a Free Quote

EXPLORE THE MEKONG AND NAM KHAN RIVER

While there are a number of boat tours to take you down the Mekong River, I opted to just explore the banks at an opportunity. There is always action on the river whether it be fisherman setting up nets in the strong current, bridges being built and families washing themselves and clothes.

TAD SAE FALLS

This was a bit of an obscure excursion from start to finish. I took a moped for 100,000 Kip for the day and drove 45 minutes to Tad Sae Falls. Well actually first you park your bike and pay 10,000 Kip for a boat to take you across the river. Now you pay 20,000 Kip to enter the falls. It was beautiful but also one of the most over-developed waterfalls I’ve ever visited. One cafe wasn’t enough, with multiple eateries parked right at the falls. Boardwalks criss-cross throughout the area and zip-line platforms hang overhead.

WHISKY VILLAGE / BAN XANG HAI

After the adventure to Tad Sae, I still had plenty of time left in the day to head north in search of a whisky village. It was a 45 minutes drive from Luang Prabang on some pretty dodgy roads. When I arrived I couldn’t see too much whisky aside from a few small alcohol bottles but there was plenty of silk and cotton weaving going on. This was one of my favorite parts of Luang Prabang, watching the weaving, hanging out with the kids, and exploring the banks of the Mekong at sunset. Definitely suggest making the effort to head out to Ban Xang Hai.

PHAN PHAO TEMPLE

Before Tad Sae Falls, I made a quick stop at Phan Phao temple, which had a decent view but wasn’t the prettiest temple I’ve seen in Southeast Asia. The golden temple is atop a hill overlooking Luang Prabang and is often referred to as the “other” temple in reference to the more popular Mt. Phousi.

RENT A BIKE/MOTORBIKE

Cruising around town on a townie is a great way to explore the temples in town, the museum, the night market, and the river. You can definitely walk it all but a bike makes the whole experience a bit more comfortable in the heat. If you rent a motorbike you can venture to the Whisky Village, Weaving Village, Tad Sae Falls, and venture through local towns along the way. I highly recommend renting some form of bike because, in my opinion, it is one of the best things to do in Luang Prabang.

NIGHT MARKETS

Each night the entire street below Mt. Phousi temple is covered in tents, each one displaying local goods, silk, whisky, and other trinkets. The markets were interesting but very repetitive. I bought a couple of drawstring bags and I am sure many, many tourists bought elephant pants because everybody seems to be wearing them.

UTOPIA

I don’t really need to include this in the Luang Prabang things to do guide, you are going to end up there anyway. The place to be on any night of the week is without a doubt Utopia. High up on the banks of the fast-flowing Nam Khan River, Utopia exudes chill. Bamboo seating, woven rugs lay on day beds, communal seating, a volleyball court, and good music are what to expect at this popular hangout. During the day they encourage relaxing, yoga, drinking, and sleeping, and at night relatively cheap alcohol and good food at a bit above budget prices are available. Each time I went to Utopia it was packed. As I mentioned earlier it closes at 1130pm due to the curfew but many people go bowling afterward, which is odd but probably a lot of fun. I never took my camera but shot from across the river on a different day. Hanging out is one of my favorite things to do in Luang Prabang.

WHAT TO EAT

Okay, so this isn’t going to be a foodie’s dissection of Luang Prabang. It is going to be how to get fed cheap on some average to pretty decent food.

Vegetarian Buffet: Alongside the market is a cramped lane full of people all attacking different Laotian delicacies. At the end of the lane is a buffet for 15,000 Kip. The catch: It’s only vegetarian although there were at least 15 different options on the buffet including pasta, rice, tofu, vegetables, salads, and other mixed rice type dishes.

Baguettes: The French definitely left their mark. Each morning I would grab bacon, avocado, and cheese baguette, which was pretty much a Subway footlong size. Price $1.25 or 8,000 Kip.

Smoothies: I have to say the quality of smoothies dropped a little in Luang Prabang after the heights of the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia. However, an average smoothie for a buck is still a great deal. A mango smoothie will set you back 10,000 Kip.

LUANG PRABANG WIFI

Internet Cafe in Luang Prabang: Joma Cafe definitely isn’t a budget option but it had the best of the worst wifi in Luang Prabang so consider it a Wifi fee when you buy a 15,000 Kip coffee if you are like me and need to hit the internet solidly every few days.

I hope you enjoyed my guide for the top things to do in Luang Prabang and have a great trip.

MORE LAOS TRAVEL BLOGS

HIKING IN VANG VIENG: HIKING TO BEAUTIFUL VIEWPOINT IN VANG VIENG

BLUE LAGOON IN VANG VIENG: BLUE LAGOON VANG VIENG DAY TRIP

KUANG SI FALLS: KUANG SI WATERFALL

THE WHISKY VILLAGE: THE WHISKY VILLAGE – LUANG PRABANG

Despite being unable to solve the Luang Prabang rubik’s cube, I did enjoy the multiple vibes of the town. From the relaxed atmosphere at Utopia, the nightly hangout to the Whisky Village in the north.

The highlight of the week for me was definitely visiting Ban Xang Hai by motorbike. The small village survives solely on the production of whisky, rice wine and silk/cotton hand-made fabrics. When we arrived, like a ghost town, no-one walked the streets and a tumbleweed wouldn’t have been out of place. But our presence was felt and vendors soon started getting prepared for an influx of people.

We watched old women work on their fabrics, weaving with intrepid intensity, hardly breaking from their push-pull-wipe rhythm. They were on the hard-sell and despite wanting to purchase something for their efforts, there is little room for a silk cloth in my backpack.

The kids came out from school and all of a sudden the whole village was alive with action.

After a dismal sunrise a day earlier, I decided to visit Mt. Phousi for sunset, despite knowing I would be battling crowds. A bit of improvisation and creativity helped me grab a few shots from a beautiful sunset that seemed to linger forever.

This is my last week in Southeast Asia after almost 6 months exploring the region. I am spending it in Vang Vieng, Laos. The town has a reputation for drugs, partying and drunken river tubing but is in the process of cleaning up it’s reputation catering to a broader spectrum of tourists. I will be looking to enjoy a few more sunsets, sunrises, villages, lagoons and of course taste-testing multiple more smoothies.

Hope you all had a great week!

THE THREE DAY BUS JOURNEY

Normally I would stop off along the way but I was meeting a friend in Luang Prabang on December 3rd. During the trip I rode in 12 different vehicles such as motorbikes, jeepneys, a sleeper bus and the ever reliable Tuk-Tuk.

By traveling on from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang land instead of flying I spent an extra 50 hours in transit and saved $90. Worth it? I am not sure. However, 24 hours of that transit was spent exploring Vientiane, which is a city I wouldn’t have seen had I flown. Crossing the border from Cambodia to Laos was also an interesting experience with lots of commissions, local knowledge and systems to be aware of. I will publish a full blog post about the journey in the coming days.

LUANG PRABANG, LAOS

I arrived in Luang Prabang and was immediately surprised at the level of infrastructure throughout the entire city, which is situated alongside the mighty Mekong River. Most towns and cities I had visited in Southeast Asia had some nice hotels, restaurants and so forth but it was never a long walk to see some sub-par living conditions for many locals. Maybe I have to dig deeper but on the surface Luang Prabang looks void of shacks, shanties and huts for the most part. Obviously I have spotted a few but in comparison to Siem Reap or El Nido the overall appearance of the town is quite well structured.

The impact this standard of living is quite evident in the prices of general groceries, food and drinks. While still comparatively cheap to western countries, when comparing Luang Prabang to the neighboring countries it is a little on the steep side. If you come straight to Laos from a western country you will laugh at me for saying that as you can still get a beer for $1 but if you come from Cambodia or Thailand you will understand.

After a day of relaxation it was time to get out and explore. The great part about Luang Prabang is that the Mekong River winds along the outskirts of the town center. Walking along the path, peering over the edge every so often to see monks paddling canoes, locals building bridges and tour boats floating past is a great way to enjoy a few hours wandering. I found a set of stairs and got right down on the bank of the river watching three young monks frolicking around in a canoe without too much purpose.

KUANG SI FALLS

The highlight of the week was exploring Kuang Si Falls, the most well-known attraction in Luang Prabang. A 45-minute van ride for a few bucks from the town center delivered us to the falls, which is also attached to a bear rescue sanctuary and a butterfly garden. The bear rescue center seemed legitimate but we did see a local guy catching hundreds of butterflies presumable to take to the butterfly garden. Nothing unusual or cruel but a little odd to capture butterflies from the waterfalls and put them in an enclosed area. Tourism.

The waterfall walkway can be traversed in less than fifteen minutes, although in reality it will take you a couple of hours as you stand in awe of multiple cascades of luminescent blue water. The major attraction at the Kuang Si is a giant waterfall, that doesn’t crash down with force but rather flows down platform by platform, the water cascading down towards a large creamy pool pastel blue.

I have another week left in Luang Prabang to explore a couple more waterfalls, maybe a few villages and lookouts and spend some time in the “office” and “gym”. Yes I do both of those from time to time.

Hope you all had a great week!